27.08.2006
Burma Digest Catalogue & Gallery
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For a Better Tomorrow
(interview with Ian C. Sloane, executive director of Prospect Burma)
_ by Raluca Enescu
In the summer of 1988, the whole Burmese nation rose in protest against the one-party system. Within days, among demonstrators and dissidents of the 8888 generation, Aung San Suu Kyi became the focus of Burmese people's hopes, speaking out for human rights and multi-party elections. In response to her and the people's calls for democracy, the military government imposed martial law and closed all the universities.
Very soon, thousands of Burmese students fled across the border to Thailand in fear for their lives. In response to their plight, well-wishers set about raising money to send them basic provisions. Thousands of Burmese students fled across the border to Thailand in fear for their lives. In response to their plight, well-wishers set about raising money to send them basic provisions. Only two years later, in 1991 Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize, and since then she has donated part of the income from that and other prize money to Prospect Burma, which now has successfully supported as many as 1000 Burmese students, most of them refugees, trough an efficient scholarship program.
Mr. Ian C. Sloane, executive director of Prospect Burma is, unsurprisingly for a passionate advocate for the right to education, someone we have a lot to learn from. Talking about the plans, vision and achievements of Prospect Burma, we understand that there’s a lot more to it than a typical “success story”. It is the hope for a better tomorrow that is born within us, with each one of us, and that must be given a chance.
BURMA DIGEST: First of all, can you please explain to our readers, in a few words, what are the goals and mission of Prospect Burma?
Ian C, Sloane: Our mission statement is Keeping the Flame of Education Alive. The aim set out in our founding trust deed in1989 is To further the peaceful development of education among young persons who are citizens of Burma and to develop and encourage amongst such persons a knowledge of the cultural and historical development of Burma .Of course, conditions have changed since 1989. We are not a political campaigning organization, but our objective is to help ensure that there is a cadre of educated Burmese able to help restore and run civil society when conditions allow.
BURMA DIGEST: What are your views, at this moment, concerning the educational system in Burma? In which way has it evolved or deteriorated, from 1988 until now?
Ian C, Sloane: All reports that we receive indicate that the educational system in Burma has suffered because of the upheaval in schools and universities with closures, removal of institutions to remote sites, lack of freedom of expression, loss of qualified and experienced staff, maintenance of rote learning in schools and the failure to keep up with modern developments, and isolation from the rest of the world.
BURMA DIGEST: What opportunities could you offer to a Burmese interested in studying abroad?
Ian C, Sloane: We give awards to students who have a place in a college abroad to study a subject of developmental value (mostly in Thailand and India, but in other parts of the world as well) and who can demonstrate reasonable academic ability, financial need and a firm intention to return to Burma when they can. They must also show a commitment to democratic values and a clear idea of their plans for the future.
BURMA DIGEST: You are mostly working with people who have lived and have been instructed, at least part of their lives, under a dictatorship and who are in need of learning systematically about democracy. Do you try to make "education for democracy"? In which way?
Ian C, Sloane: Exposure to life in a democratic society is the main advantage to students studying abroad. We find in fact that many of our applicants already have an understanding of the evils of a dictatorship and an appreciation of the advantages of a free society. Their reports show that they become even more committed in their views on completion of their study.
BURMA DIGEST: In which way do you expect the students you are working with to help Burma's democracy movement?
Ian C, Sloane: We do not make political activism a condition of our grants. Nevertheless, some students do take part in campaigns for democracy; others use their skills with non-profit organizations within Burma or on the borders. Some choose to work in humanitarian or teaching areas and spread the democratic message informally.
BURMA DIGEST: If, in the following years, the dictatorship in Burma was overthrown, how can you ensure that the people would be aware and prepared to take on their responsibilities as citizens of a newly-born democracy? What kind of educational programs would be necessary?
Ian C, Sloane: We cannot ensure anything. In the happy event that the regime was overthrown, we would have to re-examine our objectives and strategies. It is impossible to be prescriptive now since much would depend on actual events and conditions. We would wish to find a way of working to help education within Burma rather than just financing Burmese students abroad. There would clearly be a need to change educational policy within Burma and we would no doubt form new relationships with the authorities and with other non-profit organizations involved.
BURMA DIGEST: What can we, as citizens of the world, do in order to help Prospect Burma?
Ian C, Sloane: Prospect Burma’s main need is finance. We do not have the resources to meet more than a small proportion of the need, and we only give partial scholarships so students have to have alternative sources of funds to study abroad. We have to turn down a lot of good educational project proposals which we would like to help. So it may be a mundane reply, but the best way for citizens of the world to help us is to make a donation. This can be done by sending us a cheque to our office in London, or by credit card via our website, www.prospectburma.org. We operate on a small administration budget, and most of our money goes to students and our educational projects.
BURMA DIGEST: Is there anything you would like to say to our readers?
Ian C, Sloane: With the Middle East and Africa dominating the world press, Burma’s problems tend to be overlooked. There are many competing good causes, so it is a constant struggle for us to maintain and increase our capability to help. We still have some financial support from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other loyal supporters, but we need a lot more. If readers are sympathetic to our aims and our work, please make a donation, however small.
BURMA DIGEST: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INTERVIEW.
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Request: If you can kindly volunteer to translate BURMA DIGEST English articles into Burmese, please let us know burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk .
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